Several organizations committed to the study of Unitarian Universalist history collaborated this past fall to sponsor a “His­tory and Heritage Convocation,” the first time the groups have sponsored a conference together.

The Rev. Barbara Coeyman, a trustee of the Historical Society, said the history and heritage organizations had started talking about working more closely together after the UUA Board of Trustees redefined and eventually eliminated the status of “independent affiliate organizations.” Each group retains its independence, but they are sharing exhibit space at General Assembly and plan to sponsor future events together.

Copies of the papers presented at the conference are available online. Topics included the influence of Universalism on Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith, the demographics of Universalism in New York, the history of the UUA’s About Your Sexuality curriculum, and Olympia Brown’s feminism.